Game DataLoyola wraps up a four-game homestand on Saturday, April
3, 2010, when it hosts Ohio State in a televised ECAC Lacrosse
League game on Awalt Field at Ridley Athletic Complex. Faceoff is
slated for 2 p.m. The game immediately follows the
Loyola-Cincinnati women's lacrosse game, which starts at 12 p.m.
Tickets for both games are valid for the other.

Turn On The TelevisionSaturday's game will be Loyola's third-straight appearance
on national television, one of five the Greyhounds will make this
season. The game is being broadcast as part of the ECAC Game of the
Week package and is slated to be shown on many cable networks
nationwide. In Baltimore and the Mid-Atlantic area, the
Greyhounds-Buckeyes contest can be seen on The Comcast Network (Ch.
8), live at 2 p.m. For a complete list of affiliates around the
country, check out LoyolaGreyhounds.com.

Series HistoryLoyola and Ohio State will meet for the first time when
they take the field on Saturday. The Buckeyes are a first-year
member of the ECAC Lacrosse League and are the second of three
teams (Bellarmine, Denver) that Loyola will play for the first time
this season.

Defensive StalwartsLoyola's defense has allowed just 5.67 goals per game in
its last three, dropping its season goals allowed per game to 6.86.
The Greyhounds are now third in all of NCAA Division I with a 6.79
goals against average. Jake Hagelin moved up to second nationally
with a 6.86 goals against average through seven games.

'X' Marks The SpotLoyola has won 71.4-percent of faceoffs (40-of-56) in its
last three games, it's best two-game success rate since winning
72.9-percent (43-of-59) from March 6-20, 2004, in games against
Hofstra, Duke and Notre Dame. John Schiavone has been even better,
winning 73.9-percent (34-of-46) of the restarts he's taken against
Duke, Air Force and Towson. In that stretch Schiavone has picked up
23 ground balls, as well. This season, Steve Vaikness' faceoff unit
is winning restarts at a 57.6-percent clip, while Schiavone is
74-of-127 (.583).

In The PollsLoyola moved up to No. 12 in both the USILA Coaches' Poll
and the Nike/Inside Lacrosse Media Poll following the Towson
game.

Another Attacker Shut DownTowson's Tim Stratton entered last Saturday's game against
Loyola second on the Tigers with 13 points, and 13 points is what
he finished the contest with. Greyhounds' defender Steve Layne put
the clamps on another opponent, holding Stratton without a goal or
assist in the game. Layne is tied for the team lead with seven
caused turnovers this season, and he is third on the Greyhounds
with 21 ground balls. While the statistics are nice, Layne's
presence has been felt mostly in ways that don't show up on the
scoresheet, namely in opponents' goals and assists.

Saves In Critical SituationsGoalkeeper Jake Hagelin has consistently been sharp this
season when games are on the line in the fourth quarter. Last
Saturday against Towson, Hagelin made four saves against the Tigers
in the final frame, including one on a hard one-hopper by Matt
Lamon with time expiring. Earlier this year, Hagelin made two saves
with less than two minutes to play at Navy, preserving a tie and
forcing overtime where he made a save against the Midshipmen and
started a clear that led to Cooper MacDonnell's game-winning goal.
Including the fourth quarter against Air Force when Alex Peaty and
Eric Tillman saw time in the cage, Loyola goalies have posted a
.639 saves percentage in the final period.

Killing PenaltiesLoyola's opponents have scored just twice on extra-man
opportunities in the Greyhounds' last five games, converting on
just 11.7-percent (2-of-17) of man-up chances since the beginning
of March. Air Force and Duke each scored an EMO goal versus Loyola,
but the Greyhounds then shutout Towson, holding them scoreless on
four man-up possessions last Saturday. On the Tigers' EMOs, Jake
Hagelin made three saves on shots, and the defense blocked two
other Towson shots. For the season, opponents are converting just
20.8-percent of the time against Loyola on EMOs. Navy is the only
team to score more than one man-up goal in a game, tallying a pair
in the season-opener. Loyola is seventh nationally in penalty
killing and first in the ECAC.

On The Other Side Of EMOsLoyola's man-up unit has been solid through six games this
season, and the Greyhounds are already ahead of last year's EMO
numbers. In 2009, the Greyhounds scored 10 extra-man goals and
converted on 35.5-percent of EMOs. This year, however, Loyola is
scoring on over 40-percent of EMOs with 12 man-up goals. Eric Lusby
leads Loyola with four man-up goals, while Matt Langan has three
and Collin Finnerty each have three.

MacDonnell's BackCooper MacDonnell returned to the starting lineup last
week against Towson, scoring two goals for the Greyhounds. The
Preseason ECAC Player of the Year missed the Bellarmine, Notre Dame
and Air Force games with a shoulder injury, but he is still tied
for second on the team with 11 goals this season. MacDonnell leads
the ECAC in goals per game (2.75) and points per game (3.25). The
senior kicked his season off in fine fashion, scoring a career-high
six goals at Navy. His final score was the game-winner with nine
seconds to go in overtime against the Midshipmen.

Steady StephenSince joining the first midfield at the start of the
season, Stephen Murray has been a steady contributor for the
Greyhounds on offense. The junior has at least one point in six of
Loyola's seven games this season with totals of five goals and
three assists. As a freshman and sophomore, Murray was a member of
Loyola's second midfield and scored three goals in each of his
first two years.

Defending Home TurfWhether in previous years at Diane Geppi-Aikens Field or
this season at the new Awalt Field at Ridley Athletic Complex,
Loyola has been outstanding at defending its home field in ECAC
Lacrosse League games. Since joining the conference in 2005, Loyola
is 17-1 against league foes at home.

Sharing The BallLoyola had its second 10-plus assist game of the season on
March 20 against Air Force. Seven Greyhounds recorded 12 assists,
eclipsing the team's previous season-high of 11 assists at
Quinnipiac on February 27. Collin Finnerty led the way with a
career-high four assists, while Matt Langan and Taylor Ebsary also
had multi-assist games with two each. In the Greyhounds' five wins
this season, they have recorded assists on 62-percent of their
goals (36-of-58). Meanwhile in two losses, they have assisted on
just half of their goals (7-of-14).

Listen InThe Loyola-Ohio State game will be broadcast live in the
Baltimore area on WNST-AM 1570 with Chris Gunkel '90 calling the
play-by-play action. For those outside of the WNST listening area,
the broadcast can also be heard for free on
LoyolaGreyhounds.com.

ECAC HonorsMatt Langan picked up his second ECAC Co-Offensive Player
of the Week award on March 22, and Patrick Fanshaw was named the
ECAC Rookie of the Week, as well. The awards mark the fifth and
sixth of the season for the Greyhounds: Cooper MacDonnell (Off.,
Feb. 22), Jake Hagelin (Co-Def., Feb. 22), Langan (Co-Off., March
1), Collin Finnerty (Co-Off., March 8), Langan (Co-Off, March 22),
Fanshaw (Rookie, March 22).

Fanshaw's FivePatrick Fanshaw became the first Loyola freshman in 15
years to score five goals. The Glyndon, Md., native scored five
times and added an assist for a career-high six points on March 20
against Air Force. Chris Georgalas was the last Greyhounds' player
to accomplish the task as a freshman, scoring five goals twice
during his first season, April 7, 1995, against Hofstra, and April
22, 1995, versus Delaware.

Many Ways To ContributeTaylor Ebsary continues to do all of the small things for
Loyola, but his contributions are becoming more visible on the stat
sheet every game. He had a career-high three points (1 goal, 2
assists) against Air Force, and he also caused a turnover and
grabbed three ground balls. This season, the senior midfielder is
second on the team in ground balls (22), tied for first in caused
turnovers (7), while contributing three goals and five assists in
seven games.

Multiple Multi-Point GamesCollin Finnerty scored once and tied his career-high with
four assists on March 20 against Air Force, giving him
five-straight multi-point games since February 27. The senior
attacker leads Loyola with 13 goals and 20 points this season and
has scored three or more points since having just one assist in a
season-opening win at Navy. During the last five games, Finnerty
has averaged 2.6 goals and 3.8 points.

Lusby Steps Up ProductionWith an increased role this season in the offense, Eric
Lusby has made his scoring ability known from Loyola's first
midfield. He tallied 11 goals last season, scoring one in eight
contests and three against Hobart. This year, however, Lusby has
recorded three multi-goal games – three against both
Bellarmine and Notre Dame and two versus Air Force – and is
tied for second on the Greyhounds with 11 total. He has scored at
least one point in every game this season, and his four man-up
goals lead Loyola.

Teawaaraton Watch ListCollin Finnerty was named to the 2010 Tewaaraton Award
Watch List in March. The award is presented annually to the top
collegiate lacrosse player across all NCAA divisions.

Second-Half SuccessLoyola has outscored its opponents 42-26 this season after
halftime (including one overtime goal). The Greyhounds hold a 21-11
scoring advantage in the third quarter and an 20-13 lead in
fourth-quarter goals.

Dircks A Starter AgainAfter missing the entire 2009 season with a knee injury,
Steve Dircks has come all the way back, earning his first insertion
to the Greyhounds' starting lineup in 2010. Dircks was on the field
nearly the entire game against Notre Dame and Duke, finishing with
a season-high three caused turnovers versus the Fighting Irish and
five ground balls and two caused turnovers against Duke. Dircks
earned All-ECAC Second Team honors as a sophomore in 2008 after
becoming a starter early in the season.

Preseason PrognosticationsLoyola received accolades – as a team and
individually – from several outlets before the season
started. The Greyhounds were picked to win the ECAC Lacrosse
Conference by the league's coaches, while senior attacker Cooper
MacDonnell was tabbed the ECAC Preseason Player of the Year. Senior
defender Steve Layne joined MacDonnell on the Preseason All-ECAC
team. Inside Lacrosse tabbed Loyola to win the ECAC, as well, and
three Greyhounds earned Preseason All-America honors from the
publication. Junior faceoff middie John Schiavone was named to the
Third Team, while MacDonnell and Layne earned honorable
mention.

Back For MoreLoyola returns 60-percent of its goal-scoring from last
season and 58.7-percent of its assists. Senior attackers Cooper
MacDonnell and Collin Finnerty were the teams' top two goal scorers
last season, recording 30 and 24, respectively, while Finnerty was
second on the squad with 13 assists. Senior midfielder Chris Basler
is back after finishing third a year ago with 10 assists.

Designation ChangeAs of September 25, 2009, Loyola is officially known as
'Loyola University Maryland.' Since its founding in 1852, it was
recognized as 'Loyola College,' but it was approved for a
designation change by the Maryland Higher Education Council in
September.

Up NextLoyola hits the road for the first time in over a month
when it travels to Fairfield, Conn., for an ECAC Lacrosse League
game against No. 19 Fairfield. The Greyhounds will take on the
Stags at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 10. Following the game against
the Stags, Loyola returns to Awalt Field at Ridley Athletic Complex
for a 12 p.m. game against No. 13 Georgetown. The game will be
televised live on WMAR/ABC-2 and ESPNU.